Patients with serious diseases are not being admitted as inpatients at Saidpur Upazila Health Complex in the district because there is no suitable hospital building.

Seventy two people, including doctors, nurses and other staff, have been appointed to the health complex. The government regularly allocates funds, medicine and necessary equipment for it every year, but these supplies are mostly unused and usually returned.

The health complex is presently situated in an old building near Saidpur rail station, which was once used as an outdoor dispensary for providing free treatment to poor people with common diseases.

During a recent visit, this correspondent saw that all the doctors sit in a congested room, while the upazila health and family planning officer (UHFPO) works in a separate room.

Upazila health complexes are usually situated on their own land. They usually offer accommodation for 50 patients, with separate wards for males, females and children. Patients admitted to such a complex can undergo various tests like X-rays, ultra-sonograms and pathological tests, in addition to having surgery or delivering babies.

The UHFPO of the health complex, Dr Sultan Mahmud, said they render only outpatient services to patients, who procure medicines for common diseases from a nearby shop.

He added that vaccination programmes are also conducted, and they monitor the activities of all community clinics in the upazila.

The local lawmaker, Shawkat Chowdhury, said serious diseases like tuberculosis, and  leprosy are common in Saidpur. To combat this situation, a specialised 100-bed hospital was set up in Kundol area of the upazila town some years ago.

The government has decided to set up a 50-bed upazila health complex for Saidpur outside the upazila town. Contacted, Dr Abdur Rashid, civil surgeon of Nilphamari, said local leaders have selected a site at Hazarihaat village in Kashiram Bel Pukur union, 10 kms from the upazila, which has a good communication network, for construction of the health complex.

"After receiving approval for the project, steps will be taken for construction of the Saidpur Upazila Health Complex including a 50-bed hospital," he said.